The Great Players – Norm Stockton

Wonder just where a bass player can take his instrument? Wonder how a bass player can lead a band and hold down a groove? Wonder how the so-called “next level” sounds? Then get familiar with Norm Stockton. You might not have heard of him, mainly because he works primarily in the areas of jazz and Christian music, but believe me – he is one of today’s elite players.

Norm’s two solo releases, Pondering the Sushi and Tempest in a Teapot are both works of stellar musicianship. And maybe that word is what defines Norm more than anything. In his hands, the bass is not a minor player in the scheme of sound – his musicianship insures that it is a primary contributor to the sounds you hear.

Norm is a great instructor and offers DVD courses that anyone can benefit from. I suggest you visit him at normstockton.com and think about picking up his series. Having had the honor of hanging with him and seeing him in action a number of times , I can promise you’ll be a better player for it.

The Great Players – Rutger Gunnarsson

 Rutger Gunnarsson – not a household name? Maybe not. But you know his work, I can almost guarantee it. You see, Rutger is the tasteful groove-master behind every single song recorded by the Swedish supergroup, Abba! Can I get a witness? Save for, well, McCartney, there isn’t a bass player on the globe whose work has sold more records. We’re talking over 400-million records to date. Not bad.

Rutger is a rock-solid pop bassist. His lines are right in the pocket, with an equal emphasis on melody. Abba always mixed his lines up top, and for good reason: they propel the songs ahead without ever getting in the way.

Rutger’s talents extend beyond the bass, and from 1976 until they folded in the early 80′s, he also served as Abba’s string arranger.

Mama Mia! What a talent!

Rigs of The Ox (John Entwistle) from thewho.net

thewho.net (http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/gear/bass/bass6771.html) has a nice page devoted to all the rigs of John Entwistle. I’ve been curious about gear lately, so I’m tracking down who played what through what. Here’s a little sample, but please check the link above for more complete info on the Ox’s soundfarm:

1968–1971

Bass

• Vox Violin Bass
  • Used on Magic Bus
• 1965 sunburst (later refinished salmon pink) “Frankenstein” Fender Precision Bass (see 1967).
• Sunburst Fender Precision Bass with rosewood fretboard.
• Late ’60s black Fender Precision Bass with rosewood fingerboard (1970).
• 1967 Rickenbacker 4005 (“Model 31”) bass in natural Mapleglo
  Serial no. GE 2208.
  Round-top body with chequer binding, “slash” soundhole, bound fingerboard with triangular markers.
  Acquired late 1968/early 1969.
  Used in studio only, including The Seeker
  Used in television promos, including Beat Club, 1969 (for Tommy) and I Can See For Miles (on Pop Goes the Sixties, 1969)
  Sold in Sotheby’s auction, 2003. Estimated £1,200–£1,800. Sold for £7,200.
  Now featured on Björn Eriksson’s Rickenbacker Info.

Amplification

• Sound City:
  • Two Sound City L100 amps customized to the CP103 spec, unbadged or badged as Hiwatt.
  • Two or four Sound City 4×12 cabinets with 50-watt Fane speakers.
• Hiwatt
  • Three Hiwatt DR103 100-watt amps customized to the CP103 spec (i.e., no “The Who” faceplate).
  • Beginning early 1970: three Hiwatt CP103 100-watt amps. Two Hiwatt DR201 200-watt amps and one customized Hiwatt DR103 100-watt amp.
  • Four Hiwatt SE4123 4×12 cabinets.
  • Two Hiwatt SE4151 4×15 cabinets and two Hiwatt SE4123 4×12 cabinets.